Which fictional racer is Lightning McQueen's main new rival in Pixar's Cars 3?

Jackson Storm is Lightning McQueen's main new rival in Pixar's Cars 3.

Storm represents a technologically advanced generation of racers that begins dominating the Piston Cup season. He is faster, younger, and equipped with modern training and data-driven performance methods, creating the central challenge for Lightning.

Lightning's effort to compete with Storm leads him to train under Cruz Ramirez. The conflict is not simply about speed; it concerns whether an experienced champion can adapt while preserving the knowledge and identity built during his career.

Chick Hicks is Lightning's rival in the first Cars film, while Cal Weathers and Brick Yardley are other racers in the Cars 3 racing world. Jackson Storm is the specific antagonist and next-generation competitor introduced as Lightning's major threat in the third feature.